With more than 20.4 million people
who practice yoga in the United States, there are plenty of studios to
accommodate. In 2013, it seems like a yoga studio can be found on every other
block. And running a business is hard enough, but running a business in a
competitive industry is even harder.

Staying competitive in the yoga studio industry requires a
multitude of factors, including: location of studio, competitive pricing,
quality of classes and teachers, a clean studio etc. Many studios meet these
standards, but can still sometimes struggle to be noticed among the sea of
studios in its town. A solution?
Engaging events.

Set yourself apart from other studios. Design fun and interactive
yoga classes that are unique to your studio and create a brand for yourself.

Some easy steps to
get you started:

Brainstorm!: The
yoga community is inclusive, welcoming and sharing. Get together with your staff,
talk to your students after class and ask what classes they would like to see
from your studio. Get creative and flex your brain muscles.

Research: Check
out what the other studios in your area doing. You might have a great idea, but
if a studio nearby is already doing it, it most likely won’t take off as well
as you had hoped.

Think outside the
studio: A lot of towns have a “yoga in the park” program put on by a local
studio. If your town doesn’t, implementing a program is a great way to become a
leader in your yoga community. If so, look to other areas in your town that
have yoga potential (see Red Rocks example below).

To get the ideas
flowing, here are some awesome examples of engaging events:

At Tula Yoga Studio in Logan Square, Chicago (our founder’s
wife’s studio, shameless plug) you can rave-on on certain Friday nights by
taking a GLOWGA class.
Students practice under the glow of black lights while listening to trance
music and are encouraged to wear white or neon clothing to help them radiate.
The studio also provides black light body paint and bracelets for added fun.

At the Your Body Center in Houston, take a Hot Vibes class that
brings Happy Hour into the studio. The class is set to high-energy dance music
and provides Jell-O shots, fresh fruit and Vitamin Water at the end.

Put on by CorePower Yoga,Yoga on
the Rocks takes place a few Saturday mornings throughout the summer at
Colorado’s natural amphitheater, Red Rocks. Students pick their favorite spot
in the venue and downward dog among some of the most beautiful scenery in the
country. The class is a $10 drop-in and $1 from every student goes to the Whole Planet Foundation.